What to Eat for an Irritated Esophagus

Avocados are just one of the foods that can help heal esophagitis.

Image Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages

When you have an irritated or inflamed esophagus, also known as esophagitis, eating, drinking and swallowing can be very painful.

In most cases, your esophagus will heal on its own, but in the meantime, it can be helpful to avoid irritating foods and slightly change your diet.

Tip

If you have an inflamed esophagus, steer clear of hot, spicy or acidic foods, and incorporate more soft foods that heal esophagitis.

Foods That Heal Esophagitis

If your esophagus is very painful and inflamed, try adding some foods that heal esophagitis. These might include:

• Cooked fruits
• Vegetables
• Avocado
• Fish

All of these are easier to swallow than raw fruits and vegetables and tougher or more firm protein sources. They can feel more soothing on your throat and esophagus.

Some of these foods also have anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce pain and swelling in your esophagus.

Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and soft cheeses may be tolerated, so long as you don’t have an intolerance, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Ice cream, custards, puddings, sherbet and cottage cheese also count.

Avoid dairy products that contain nuts, seeds, spices, granola or whole fruits. Choose low-fat products over whole to reduce your saturated fat intake.

Keep Foods Cool or Room Temperature

In addition, stick to foods that are cool or at room temperature rather than very cold or very hot. They’ll feel better going down.

If swallowing is very painful, you can try switching to a pureed diet, which is easier to swallow. Just cook your foods until they’re very soft, put them in the blender with some liquid like milk or stock and puree them until they’re the consistency of smooth mashed potatoes.

In the worst-case scenario, you may need to stick to a full liquid diet, which includes foods like soups (warm, not hot), smoothies or yogurt, per the U. S. National Library of Medicine.

What Causes an Inflamed Esophagus?

Esophagitis is an irritation or inflammation of the lining of your esophagus, the tube that leads from your mouth to your stomach. Its symptoms usually include burning, pain with swallowing or chest pain in your breast bone area. In some cases, you may even notice bleeding when you cough.

It can be caused by a number of different things. According to Harvard Health Publishing, the most common causes of esophagitis are acid reflux, excessive vomiting (often due to an eating disorder), infection or certain medications, like aspirin or NSAIDs, some osteoporosis medications or doxycycline.

A less common form of this disorder is called eosinophilic esophagitis, and it’s caused by a food allergy. This type of esophagitis is rare, though.

In most cases, an inflamed esophagus that’s caused by certain medications, vomiting or infection will resolve on its own once the trigger is eliminated.

Conditions such as acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) release stomach acid up into the esophagus. This causes a burning sensation behind your breastplate, often referred to as heartburn. The burning feeling is often the acid damaging the lining in your esophagus. Stomach acid is often as low as pH 2.0, meaning it is very acidic.

If your condition is caused by acid reflux, GERD or a food allergy, it may take some time to identify your trigger foods so you can eliminate them and allow your symptoms to improve.

Esophageal pH Monitoring Tests

It’s unlikely that you’ll need to check your esophageal pH and acid levels unless you frequently experience pain after eating. Most people might have a little acid reflux every so often. It could be triggered by a particularly large meal or a reaction to a specific foodstuff.

If your doctor thinks you may have GERD or a similar condition, they may ask you to undergo an esophageal pH monitoring test.

The test involves passing a very thin tube down your esophagus and into your stomach. You keep the tube in place for a full day. After 24 hours, a sensor records the acidity levels in your esophagus. The test shows the general pH conditions.

There’s also a newer method of testing, the Bravo pH monitor, which uses a wireless pH probe and causes little to no discomfort, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

A low pH of 4.0 or less may suggest that you have acid reflux or similar digestive issues.

Still, normal value ranges may vary depending on the lab doing the test, per Mount Sinai. For this reason, you should talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Foods to Avoid When Your Esophagus Is Inflamed

An inflamed esophagus usually isn’t caused by your diet, but certain foods in your diet may make it worse. It’s often helpful to keep a food journal so you can track your symptoms, learn which foods make you feel worse and avoid them.

Most of the time, esophagitis is caused by acid reflux or heartburn. When acid from your stomach backs up into your esophagus, it can burn and damage the lining of your esophagus. Eating very spicy or very acidic foods can make your inflamed esophagus feel even worse because they can burn the inflamed tissue.

When your irritated esophagus is caused by heartburn, part of the diet to help it involves limiting foods that irritate this organ. The other part is avoiding foods that trigger heartburn in the first place.

The foods that cause heartburn can be different for everyone, but the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends avoiding these common trigger foods:

• Fatty, greasy foods like fried chicken or french fries
• Spicy foods
• Tomatoes and tomato products
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Peppermint
• Chocolate

In addition to eliminating these triggers, esophagitis diet restrictions also include citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons because their acid can irritate the esophagus.

Irritated Esophagus From Drinking

Sometimes, you can have an irritated esophagus from drinking certain beverages, like coffee or alcohol.

Coffee increases stomach acid, and alcohol is known to irritate the mucosal lining throughout your gastrointestinal tract, so they should both be avoided, especially if you have acid reflux.

Another reason to cut back on coffee is that when you drink it hot, the hot temperature can damage the lining of your esophagus. The same thing goes for hot tea, hot chocolate or even very hot soup.

The results of a research review published in the June 2015 issue of ​BMC Cancer​ found that people who drink very hot beverages (or eat very hot foods) have a greater risk of esophageal cancer than those consuming warm beverages. Researchers suspect it’s due to damage to the cells that line the esophagus.

If you have an irritated esophagus from drinking, try cutting back on coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate and all alcoholic beverages for a few weeks.

The best drink for esophagitis is something plain and non-acidic, like water. Chances are, you’ll feel better and your inflamed esophagus will have a chance to heal.

4 Other Helpful Tips for Esophagitis

In addition to what you eat, ​how​ you eat can have an impact on an inflamed esophagus.

The most important tip is to eat slowly and chew your food very well. Smaller bits of food that are chewed very well can travel down your esophagus much more quickly and easily.

2. Include a Drink With Your Meal

Make sure you drink while you eat to keep the food moist and easier to swallow. If you inhale your food too quickly, don’t chew it well or if your meal is too dry, it’s more likely to hurt your esophagus when you swallow.

Eating smaller meals can also be helpful for esophagitis because they require less stomach acid to be digested. If your stomach produces less acid, any heartburn will be minimized and your esophagus won’t be as irritated.

4. Avoid Eating Close to Bedtime

Finally, a tip that helps prevent acid from backing up into your esophagus is to eat dinner several hours before going to bed or lying down. If you stay upright after eating, you’ll have gravity to help you digest and the acid will stay in your stomach and out of your esophagus.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If your inflamed esophagus comes on suddenly as a result of a new medication you’re taking, ask your health care provider or pharmacist if esophagitis is one of the side effects. You may need to alert your doctor and ask about a medication change.

If you have a mild case of heartburn that’s causing esophagitis, it will probably resolve on its own once you eliminate any foods that trigger heartburn and irritate your esophagus. However, if your symptoms seem severe or continue to worsen, talk to your doctor.

The American College of Gastroenterology cites chronic irritation to the esophagus as a leading cause of a more serious condition known as Barrett’s esophagus, or even esophageal cancer. Therefore, seeking medical advice is highly recommended.

Monitor your symptoms, change your diet and see how your body reacts. If you don’t notice any improvements, you may have an underlying disorder that requires adequate treatment.

Dysphagia Diet | Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology

Updated 09/24/2018
Category: Diet

Dysphagia means difficulty with chewing or swallowing food or liquid. The dysphagia diet covers 5 levels for difficulty in swallowing. To understand how this might happen, it is important to know something about how swallowing occurs. First, food must be chewed thoroughly. Then it is moved to the back of the mouth by tightening the cheek muscles and pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth. From this point on the process becomes automatic — it is a reflex that people do not actively control. In “rapid- fire” succession, the soft palate closes the nasal airway to prevent food from backing into it, the airway into the lungs is closed, and the esophagus (food pipe) relaxes allowing food and liquid to enter it. The muscular esophagus then contracts in a wave-like action, sweeping the food along into the stomach. A blockage or a malfunction anywhere in this part of the body or in the nervous system controlling swallowing can result in dysphagia. There are two types:

Esophageal dysphagia occurs when food/liquid stops in the esophagus. This can happen in several ways.  Stomach acid can reflux into the esophagus. Over time, the reflux causes inflammation and a narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus. Food and eventually liquids feel like they are sticking in the middle and lower chest. There may be chest discomfort or even real pain. Fortunately, physicians can usually dilate (widen) this narrowing, and there is now treatment available to keep it from returning. Cancer, hiatus hernia, and certain muscle disorders of the esophagus are less frequent causes of esophageal dysphagia. Solid food is usually more of a problem than liquids

Oropharyngeal dysphagia involves difficulty moving food to the back of the mouth and starting the swallowing process. This type of dysphagia can result from various nerve or brain disorders such as stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, cancer of the neck or throat, a blow to the brain or neck, or even dental disorders. Depending on the cause, symptoms may include drooling, choking, coughing during or after meals, pocketing of food between the teeth and cheeks, gurgly voice quality, inability to suck from a straw, nasal regurgitation (food backing into the nasal passage), chronic respiratory infection, or weight loss. Liquids are usually more of a problem in oropharyngeal dysphagia.

The first step in treatment is to make the proper diagnosis. This involves a medical history and various tests to find the cause of the dysphagia. Often a team approach to treatment is needed. Several types of health care providers — physicians, registered dietitian, psychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist — work together to develop the best program.

An important part of the treatment is helping the patient get adequate nutrition, while protecting against complications such as pneumonia from food or liquid getting into the lungs. Obviously, this requires a specialized diet. There are five different diet levels from puréed (level 1) up through modified regular food (level 5). The diets vary in texture and consistency, and are chosen depending on which would be most effective for a specific patient..

Nutrition facts

These diets are all nutritionally adequate. However, some patients may have difficulty taking enough fluid and food to get all the energy and nutrients they need. In this case, an adjustment to diet or treatment will be required.

Liquids

Fluids are essential to maintain body functions. Usually 6 to 8 cups of liquid (48-64 oz) are needed daily. For some dysphagia patients, this may present problems because thin liquid can be more difficult to swallow. In this case, fluid can be thickened to make it easier to swallow. However, close monitoring by the dysphagia team is required for anyone drinking less than 4 cups of thickened fluid a day or anyone not progressing to thin liquids within 4 weeks.

Calories

The greater problem for some patients is eating enough calories. The whole process of eating simply becomes too difficult and too tiring. However, calorie and protein intake can be increased by fortifying the foods the patient does eat.

• Fortify milk by adding 1 cup of dry powdered milk to one quart of liquid milk. Use this protein fortified milk when making hot cooked creamed soups, sauces, milkshakes, and puddings. Also add margarine, sugar, honey, jelly, or puréed baby food to increase calories.
• Add strained baby fruit to juices, milkshakes, and cooked cereals.
• Add 1 jar of strained baby meat to soup, such as strained chicken noodle soup. Also add strained baby meats to sauces and gravies, and mix with strained vegetables.
• Add juice to prepared fruit, cereal, or milkshakes.

Special Considerations

The following are some general guidelines for safe swallowing. Remember that dysphagia patients have individual requirements, so all of these guidelines may not apply to every patient. Maintain an upright position (as near 90 degrees as possible) whenever eating or drinking. Take small bites — only 1/2 to 1 teaspoon at a time. Eat slowly. It may also help to eat only one food at a time. Avoid talking while eating. When one side of the mouth is weak, place food into the stronger side of the mouth. At the end of the meal, check the inside of the cheek for any food that may have been pocketed. Try turning the head down, tucking the chin to the chest, and bending the body forward when swallowing. This often provides greater swallowing ease and helps prevent food from entering the airway. Do not mix solid foods and liquids in the same mouthful and do not “wash foods down” with liquids, unless you have been instructed to do so by the therapist. Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, with no distractions. Following each meal, sit in an upright position (90 degree angle) for 30 to 45 minutes.

Level 2 Minced Foods
Foods in this group should be minced/chopped into very small pieces (1/8 inch). The flecks of food are similar in size to sesame seeds.
Hot Foods	Cold Foods
Minced meat, fish, poultry	Cottage cheese
Minced stuffed fish	Junior baby fruit
Flaked fish	Semi-thickened juices
Junior baby meats	Nectars
Minced soft cooked, scrambled, poached eggs	Ripe mashed bananas
Minced soufflé & omelets	Minced canned fruit
Minced soft French toast	Pineapple sauce
Minced soft pancakes	Milk
Cooked cereals	Milkshakes
Minced potatoes	Custard
Minced buttered or Alfredo noodles	Puddings, including rice & tapioca
Minced vegetables	Yogurt
Creamed soups	Fruit ice, Italian ice, sherbet
Puréed vegetables soup or alphabet soup	Whipped gelatin
Minced scalloped apples	Junior baby desserts
Gravies	Sugar, syrup, honey, jelly
Sauces: cheese, creamed, barbecue, tomato, white	Cream
Decaffeinated coffee or tea	Margarine

Level 3 Ground Foods
Foods in this group should be ground/diced into 1/4-inch pieces. These pieces of food are similar in size to rice.
Hot Foods	Cold Foods
Ground meat, fish, poultry	Cottage cheese
Ground meat salads (no raw eggs)	Smooth fruited yogurt
Ground Swedish meatballs	Fruit juices or nectars
Scrambled eggs or soufflés	Ground canned fruit
Ground poached eggs	Crushed pineapple
Cooked cereals	Ripe bananas
Ground soft French toast	Lemonade/Limeade (no pulp)
Ground potatoes	Milk
Ground noodles	Ice cream
Ground baked potato (no skin)	Custard
Ground well-cooked frozen vegetables (no corn, peas, or mixed vegetables)	Puddings or mousse
Ground canned vegetables	Fruit ice, Italian ice, sherbet
Creamed soups	Cream
Puréed vegetables soup or alphabet soup	Non-dairy creamer
Ground scalloped apples	Margarine
Gravies	Mayonnaise
Sauces: cheese, creamed, barbecue, tomato, white	Ketchup
Decaffeinated tea or coffee	Mustard

Level 4 Chopped Foods
Foods in this group should be chopped into 1/2-inch pieces. These pieces of food are similar in size to uncooked elbow macaroni or croutons (small bread cubes).
Hot Foods	Cold Foods
Chopped meat or poultry	Cottage cheese
Chopped Swedish meatballs	Yogurt
Meat salads (ground or flaked meat)	Milk
Flaked fish	Milkshakes
Poached or scrambled eggs	Soft, cold, dry cereal
Soufflés and omelets	Soft bread (if approved by speech or occupational therapy)
Cooked cereals	Fruit juice or nectars
Chopped French toast or pancakes	Chopped canned fruit
Chopped noodles or pasta (no rice)	Canned fruit cocktail
Chopped cooked vegetables (no frozen peas, corn, or mixed vegetables)	Pudding, mousse, custard
Chopped canned small sweet peas	Ice cream
Creamed soup or vegetable soup	Fruit ice, Italian ice, sherbet
Canned chicken noodle soup	Cream cheese
Chopped potatoes (all kind)	Whipped topping
Gravies	Whipped gelatin
Bacon dressing	Sugar, syrup, honey, jam, jelly
Sauces: cheese, creamed, barbecue, tomato, white
Decaffeinated tea or coffee

Commercial Thickening Agents
Product	Manufacturer	Phone
Thick n Easy	American Institutional Products, Inc.	(717) 569-1866
Thick-it	Milani Foods, Inc.	(800) 333-0033
Thick Set	Bernard Fine Foods, Inc.	(800) 538-3663
Thixx	Bernard Fine Foods, Inc.	(800) 323-3663

Textures/Consistencies of Foods

The following are examples of medium and thick liquids and foods.

Medium (nectar consistency):

• eggnog
• fruit nectars
• (apricot, peach, pear)
• honey
• thick creamed soups
• soft set pudding with added
• milk
• tomato juice
• buttermilk
• ice cream
• (no nuts or fruit chunks)
• milkshakes

• Thick (yogurt or pudding consistency):

  • cooked hot cereal
  • pudding
  • custard
  • gravy
  • yogurt (no nuts or fruit chunks)
  • cottage cheese mixed in
  • blender with milk or fruit
  • thick malt and milkshakes

Thickening and Thinning Agents

Foods can be thickened or thinned to individual requirements. Many foods can be used to change a liquid to a different consistency. The amount of thickening agent needed to reach a certain food consistency varies depending on the food being thickened and on the thickening agent used.

How to Thin Liquids

• Add hot milk-based liquids (hot milk or cream) to puréed soups, puréed vegetables, or cooked cereal.
• Add other hot liquids (broth, gravy, sauces) to mashed potatoes, puréed or ground meats, and puréed or chopped vegetables. Butter or melted margarine may also be used.
• Add cold milk-based liquids to cream, yogurt, cold soups, puréed fruits, or puddings and custards.

How to Thicken Liquids and Foods

• Add baby rice or commercial thickener to hot milk-based liquids.
• Add potato flakes, mashed potatoes, or flaked baby cereal to other hot liquids (soups, sauces, gravies).
• Add plain unflavored gelatin, puréed fruits, banana flakes, or a commercial thickener to cold liquids.
• Add potato flakes, mashed potatoes, thick sauces or gravies, canned puréed or strained meat (baby food), or a commercial thickener to puréed soups.
• Add flaked baby cereal, flavored gelatin, cooked cream of rice or wheat cereal, or a commercial thickener to puréed fruits.
• Add mashed white or sweet potatoes, potato flakes, sauces, or commercial thickener to puréed vegetables.

If a Food is Too Thin, Add One of the Following:

• baby cereal
• banana flakes
• bread crumbs
• cornstarch
• cooked cereals (cream of wheat or rice)
• custard mix
• graham cracker crumbs
• gravy
• instant potato flakes
• mashed potatoes
• plain unflavored gelatin powder
• plain sauces (white, cheese, tomato)
• puréed fruits (baby food)
• puréed meats (baby food)
• puréed vegetables (baby food)
• saltine cracker crumbs

If a Food is Too Thick, Add One of the Following:

• broth
• bouillon
• gravy
• juice
• liquid flavored gelatin
• melted hot butter/margarine
• milk (hot or cold)
• plain yogurt
• strained puréed soups

Recipes

Fruit Shake In a blender, place 1-1/2 cups of fresh, frozen, or canned fruit with 1 cup fortified milk. Mix until smooth.Fruit Blend In a blender, mix 1/4 cup apple juice, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 1 cup canned peaches or pears. Mix until smooth.High-Protein Smoothies In a blender, mix 1 cup fruit-flavored yogurt and 1 cup fortified milk with soft, fresh, peeled fruit or soft, canned fruit, and 1 cup of cottage cheese. Mix until smooth.Cottage Cheese Pudding Mix together 1/4 cup cottage cheese and 3 T baby fruit. Chill. Creamed Vegetable Soup In a blender, add 1/2 cup strained or very soft cooked vegetable; 1/2 cup fortified milk, cream, or plain yogurt, 1 tsp margarine; salt, onion powder, and crushed dried parsley flakes to taste. Mix to desired consistency.

Soft Food Diet for a Bruised Esophagus

When you swallow, food passes through your esophagus to your stomach. Heartburn and gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, are the most common esophageal disorders, but a bruised esophagus can also cause tremendous pain when you eat. A soft diet can reduce the pain that you get from eating, and a nutritionist can help you design a nutritionally adequate diet for your condition.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

A soft food diet is common for individuals who have had surgery or who have trouble chewing or swallowing, and it may allow your bruised esophagus to heal by preventing further irritation. A soft diet emphasizes naturally soft or highly processed foods, and it restricts foods that may scratch or tear your esophagus. The diet may also limit foods that cause gas or bloating because these conditions can also place stress on your esophagus, according to the Langone Medical Center.

Foods to Eat

A soft food diet allows soft raw, cooked and canned fruits without the skin, and canned and cooked vegetables, according to the Langone Medical Center. You can have cooked refined grains, such as white pasta and rice, and cereals as long as they do not have nuts or seeds. Other soft foods are ice cream, pudding, sugar and beverages.

Foods to Avoid

Foods That Help Your Braces Not to Hurt

You may feel pain when you eat hard foods such as:

• most raw vegetables
• nuts
• seeds
• dried fruits,
• fruits with seeds or pits

Other foods to avoid are whole grain breads and other baked goods, popcorn, gristly meats, fish with bones and fried foods, such as

Spices, jams with seeds and coconut are also likely to injure your bruised esophagus.

Considerations

Even if a food is on your list of allowed foods for a soft diet, avoid it if it causes pain when you swallow it. A soft food diet may relieve pain or prevent further symptoms, but it is important to determine and treat any underlying medical conditions that may have caused your condition. For example, a bruised esophagus may result from esophageal varices, which are a sign of liver disease, according to Medline Plus 1. To be on the safe side, consult your doctor if you have a bruised esophagus.

• Even if a food is on your list of allowed foods for a soft diet, avoid it if it causes pain when you swallow it.
• A soft food diet may relieve pain or prevent further symptoms, but it is important to determine and treat any underlying medical conditions that may have caused your condition.

Diet and Barrett’s Esophagus – Barrett’s Esophagus

Many of the dietary recommendations for Barrett’s esophagus are similar to the diet recommended for patients with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Here are some recommendations for reducing GERD and decreasing the amount of acid and food exposure in the esophagus

Stay upright for 3 hours after eating – this will allow your food to digest more completely and reduce the amount of reflux you have when you lay down

• Elevating the head of the bed – this can also decrease the amount of reflux that occurs when you lay down as gravity will help keep food in your stomach. Propping on pillows may not be as effective as putting blocks, books, or bricks under the upper posts of your bed. A big pile of pillows can cause you to hunch over, which may increase reflux
• Eat a low-fat diet – lower fat meals will digest more quickly, so you’ll have less reflux
• Don’t smoke – while smoking is more strongly associated with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus, it can also contribute to esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is the kind of esophageal cancer related to BE
• Reduce caffeine intake – caffeine relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus. When this muscle is relaxed, you’re more likely to have reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. A little caffeine is probably okay, but multiple cups of coffee a day is too much. Remember that a standard size cup of coffee is actually pretty small, so one giant cup of coffee is actually equal to 2 or 3 cups of coffee! Many carbonated sodas also contain caffeine and tea (hot and iced) also contain some caffeine. To find out the caffeine content of beverages, a quick internet search for ‘caffeine content’ will pull up several sources, such as this one: http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm
• Alcohol – drink in moderation. Alcohol relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and can increase reflux. However, there are some studies that suggest moderate wine or alcohol intake can lower the risk of Barrett’s and esophageal adenocarcinoma (this will be addressed in a separate post)
• Weight loss – weight loss will also help improve reflux symptoms. Obesity increases the risk of both Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer

– posted by Kerry Dunbar, MD

Oesophageal reflux diet sheet | Patient

Oesophageal reflux – also called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – is a common cause of symptoms of upper tummy (abdominal) pain and chest pain. It is caused by acid from the stomach leaking up into the gullet (oesophagus).

Some foods are more likely to trigger reflux symptoms and it may help to look at how you eat as well as what you eat.

What is oesophageal reflux?

Oesophageal reflux is also known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It most commonly causes a burning pain in the chest which comes on after eating. You may also have a pain in the upper part of your tummy (abdomen) or a sensation of acid coming up into your gullet (oesophagus).

What are the symptoms of oesophageal reflux?

The symptoms can be caused by several different factors in the body.

• The stomach may be producing too much acid. This can happen if you are feeling stressed.
• The muscle ring (sphincter) at the bottom of the gullet (oesophagus) may be too relaxed and open, allowing food and acid to reflux upwards. Alcohol and smoking both relax the sphincter.
• In people with a hiatus hernia, stomach contents can reflux easily into the oesophagus
• The stomach may be slow to empty after eating. This is more likely if you eat a fatty meal.
• Something may be increasing the pressure in the tummy (abdomen), forcing stomach contents upwards. Factors which increase the pressure include tight clothing, obesity, pregnancy and coughing.

Which foods and other factors are likely to trigger oesophageal reflux?

It is helpful to try to identify whether there are any particular foods which trigger your reflux. It might be a good idea to keep a food diary for at least a week, recording what you eat and what symptoms you have.

There is quite a big list of foods which are said to cause reflux symptoms. However, they may not all apply to you. For some people, reflux may not be triggered by particular foods at all but by other factors. Sometimes the trigger may be a combination of foods and other factors.

There are lots of factors around eating which can make these symptoms worse:

• Eating late at night. If possible, don’t eat a large meal within three hours of going to bed.
• Eating just before you exercise.
• Eating large meals.
• Eating quickly.
• Obesity. Even a moderate weight loss may help to reduce symptoms.
• Having a lot of fluid to drink with a meal.

There are some foods which individual people find make reflux worse. Your food triggers may be different but these foods have all been suggested as reflux triggers:

• Chocolate.
• Mint.
• Tomatoes.
• Onions.
• Garlic.
• Citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons.
• Caffeinated and fizzy drinks.
• Coffee
• Peppers.
• Cucumber.
• Spicy foods.
• Processed meats – for example, salami, bacon.
• Fatty foods: many people find that eating fatty foods increases their symptoms of reflux. However, recent medical research does not back up this recommendation.

What can I do to manage my oesophageal reflux symptoms?

It might be a good idea to cut all of the suggested foods out of your diet for a week or two to see if your symptoms disappear. If they do disappear then you could add these foods back into your diet one at a time to see if they are what is causing your reflux.

If your symptoms come back, perhaps because of other factors as listed above, you may need to cut out potential triggers again until the symptoms have settled down.

In general, a healthy diet is associated with a lower risk of reflux symptoms. In particular:

Esophagitis: Causes, Symptoms & Natural Self-Care

Evidence Based

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This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information.

With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

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This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.

Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased.

The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.

By Katherine Brind’Amour, PhD, MS

December 10, 2017

Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus (the muscular tube connecting your mouth to your stomach). It causes pain or difficulty swallowing food and pills, and can make eating very uncomfortable. When it goes untreated, esophagitis can lead to changes in the esophagus that can make it hard to swallow food without choking. (1)

There are many potential causes of esophagitis. Its symptoms can range from vomiting to chest pain, which are involved in many other health problems, so you shouldn’t try to self-diagnose esophagitis. By getting a formal diagnosis, you can get the right type of treatment. In most cases, esophagitis gets better with treatment. (2)

What Is Esophagitis?

The esophagus is the food pipe: it moves food and liquid from your mouth to your stomach. When the lining of that tube gets irritated, swollen, or inflamed, it is called esophagitis. (3) There are several different types, each with its own cause and treatment. Although rare, sometimes another condition known as achalasia may also occur with esophagitis. (4) Achalasia causes difficulty swallowing due to nerve damage in the esophagus. (5)

Types of esophagitis

• Reflux esophagitis: The bottom of the esophagus has a small valve (the lower esophageal sphincter) that helps keep stomach acid from coming back into the food pipe. If that opens when it shouldn’t, or if it doesn’t close correctly, stomach acid can get into the food pipe. This causes heartburn and irritation of the esophagus and is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When it lasts for a long time, GERD can damage tissue in the esophagus and cause swelling that is known as reflux esophagitis. (6)
• Eosinophilic esophagitis: In some people, white blood cells collect in the esophagus. These cells are called eosinophils. They are often an indicator of a food allergy or acid reflux (or both). (7) When these white blood cells are present in high amounts in the esophagus, it is called eosinophilic esophagitis. People with allergies to pollen, milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, beans, soy, rye and beef may not even know they even have an allergy causing the problem. (8) Skin tests for these allergens may be negative, and even blood tests may show very low-level allergic results. (9)
• Drug-induced esophagitis: This is also called pill-induced or medication-induced esophagitis. It is irritation or injury of the esophagus caused by taking pills without enough water. The pills can physically harm the esophagus, or they may leave behind some residue that stays in the food pipe and hurts the tissue. (10) In most cases, this type goes away after the medication is stopped, or with changes in how you take the medicine. (11) It can often be healed and avoided by taking pills while sitting or standing upright, with a full glass of water. (12)
• Infectious esophagitis: Infections can affect the tissue of the esophagus, causing esophagitis. The infections can be fungal, viral or bacterial. They occur most often in people with lowered immunity, such as people taking steroids or antibiotics, or people with diabetes, cancer or HIV/AIDS. (13) Otherwise, this type of esophagitis is fairly rare. When it does occur, it is often caused by Candida. (14)
• Lymphocytic esophagitis: This occurs when there is a high number of lymphocytes (white blood cells that help fight invaders such as bacteria or toxins) in the esophagus. (15) It is rare but related to eosinophilic esophagitis and GERD.
• Erosive esophagitis: Any type of esophagitis can become erosive if it begins to wear away the lining of the esophagus. Chronic acid reflux is the most common cause of erosive esophagitis, but drinking corrosive liquids (such as cleaning solutions), taking certain pills or having certain types of large pills get caught in the esophagus can all cause painful erosions. (16) These are also called lesions.

How is esophagitis diagnosed?

Although your doctor may have a good idea of an esophagitis diagnosis based on your symptoms, you are likely to have at least one test to confirm. You can expect to be diagnosed using one of these tests:

• Esophageal manometry: This checks how well your esophagus works and whether the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve leading to the stomach) opens and closes the way it should. (17) A tiny tube goes through your nose and down through your food pipe into the stomach. Then you rest on your side and swallow a sip of water. The tube is sensitive to pressure and measures how strong your muscles are and how well they work. (18)
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): This is a biopsy of your esophagus. They put you under light anesthesia and insert a small tube down your throat through your mouth. There is a camera on the end so that the doctor can see what your esophagus looks like. In most cases, they will take a piece of tissue from your esophagus, which is called a biopsy. (19)
  • Lab tests: If you have a biopsy done, the tissue sample will be sent to a lab to check for things such as infection, white blood cells, or esophageal cancer or precancerous cells. (20)
• Esophageal X-ray: This is also called an upper GI series or barium X-ray. You will swallow barium (as a liquid or pill) and they will take X-ray images of your neck, chest and stomach to check the esophagus for damage or to search for other esophagus problems, like hernia or tumors. (21)

What is Grade 1 esophagitis? Grade IV? Esophagitis Grade A?

There are several scales that exist to measure how severe your disease is. The scales are often used in clinical research or by doctors to help decide how to treat your esophagitis or to track your improvement. Ask your doctor which scale they used to score you and what your grade level means.

In most cases, Grade 1, Grade I or Grade A mean there are minor signs of esophagitis, such as spots showing irritation or damaged tissue. With each step up in grade level (up to 4 or 5, or up to the letter D), the condition is considered more severe. The most severe stages involve damage to large percentages of the esophageal tissue. They usually also mean that there have been changes to the esophagus, called strictures, that make it narrower in certain places. Esophageal strictures or rings can make it very hard to swallow food. (22)

Esophagitis Signs & Symptoms

Esophagitis symptoms can be confused with symptoms of many other health problems, such as esophageal spasm or even a heart attack. (23) When symptoms alarm you, last more than a few days, don’t improve with over-the-counter heartburn or reflux medicines, or make it difficult for you to eat, see a doctor. (24) You should also get medical care if you have esophagitis symptoms together with headache, fever and muscle aches.

Symptoms of esophagitis include: (25, 26, 27)

• Trouble swallowing (also called dysphagia)
• Painful swallowing
• Chest pain during and after eating
• Food that gets stuck in the esophagus
• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Nausea or vomiting
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Hoarse voice

In infants and young children, signs may include vomiting, trouble feeding and failure to thrive. (28)

What are the symptoms of erosive esophagitis?

Erosive esophagitis causes many of the same symptoms as other types of esophagitis, such as heartburn and difficulty or pain when swallowing. However, when left untreated, erosive esophagitis can lead to blood in vomit or stool. In severe cases it can lead to esophageal strictures, chronic inflammation and ulcers. (29)

What causes ulcers in the esophagus?

When acid from the stomach enters the esophagus because of GERD, it can eat away at the lining of the esophagus and cause an ulcer. Ulcers can also develop when certain kinds of pills are not rinsed down with enough water and saliva, leaving residue from the pill on the lining of the esophagus. (30) Other causes include smoking, too much alcohol, or infection with Helicobacter pylori, HIV, Candida, the herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus. (31)

What are the symptoms of esophageal cancer?

Esophageal cancer symptoms can sometimes be confused with the symptoms of regular esophagitis. (32) Signs and symptoms include: (33)

• Difficulty swallowing or choking on food
• Chest pain or burning
• Weight loss
• Cough that doesn’t go away
• Hoarseness
• Hiccups
• Bone pain
• Bleeding from the esophagus (this can show up in your stool and also cause you to feel tired)

It is very important to get medical attention if you think you have a symptom of esophagitis or esophageal cancer.

Causes & Risk Factors

In general, risk factors that may cause esophagitis include: (34)

• Vomiting
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking
• A weakened immune system caused by medications or another health problem
• Taking pills without drinking enough water (especially alendronate, tetracycline, doxycycline, ibandronate, risedronate, potassium tablets and vitamin C tablets)
• Chest surgery or radiation therapy (for lung cancer, for example)
• Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD)
• Allergies to food or things in the environment, such as pollen

However, risk factors vary by the type of esophagitis. For example:

• People with autoimmune conditions such as HIV are more likely to be affected by infectious esophagitis. (35)
• Reflux esophagitis is more common among people with GERD and those who eat shortly before bed, consume a lot of acidic foods or drinks including alcohol and caffeine, eat large and fatty meals, smoke, have excess weight, and consume other foods that can worsen GERD symptoms (tomatoes, citrus, garlic, mint, chocolate, etc.). (36)
• Eosinophilic esophagitis risk factors include food allergies and a family history of the condition, as well as male gender, white race and having other allergic issues (asthma, allergic rhinitis, or eczema). (37)
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids or antibiotics increases the risk for drug-induced esophagitis. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the risks of NSAIDs include stomach and gastrointestinal problems when taken frequently; cases of esophagitis caused by NSAID use, and also that of antibiotics, can occur. (38, 39)

Conventional Treatment

Traditional medical treatment of esophagitis includes both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Most physicians will also recommend lifestyle changes and solutions to help you minimize your symptoms naturally (see below). In serious cases, treatment of esophagitis strictures and esophageal narrowing may require surgery.

How do you treat esophagitis?

Generally, the type of medical treatment you receive will depend on the specific diagnosis you have. (40)

• Reflux esophagitis is typically treated with OTC or prescription antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H-2-receptor blockers, or prokinetics. Surgery may help reduce acid reflux in severe cases.
• Eosinophilic esophagitis treatment typically involves avoiding the allergen, although you may also be prescribed proton pump inhibitors or steroids to coat your esophagus. If you need to identify food allergens, you may have to try an elimination or elemental diet as well.
• Drug-induced esophagitis treatment mostly involves taking replacement/alternative medications to reduce irritation. You can also improve your pill-taking strategies as a natural treatment (see below).
• Infectious esophagitis treatment requires treating the bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite that is causing the infection. The medication will target the underlying infection and once it is healed, the symptoms should go away.

How long does it take to recover from esophagitis?

How long esophagitis lasts depends on many factors, including the type and its underlying cause. People whose condition is caused by swallowing certain types of pills often experience relief within days of stopping the medication. People with infectious causes also experience swift relief with treatment.

However, reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis may last a long time — months or even years. Because they are caused by other problems that usually do not have a cure, such as food allergies, the esophagitis can often be managed but not cured. In these cases, treating esophagitis is essential to help minimize symptoms and avoid complications from the disease.

20+ Natural Ways to Manage Esophagitis Self-Care

The type of esophagitis treatment you pursue should be tailored to the diagnosis you have. For example, avoiding NSAIDs won’t make eosinophilic esophagitis go away. Work with your health care provider to come up with a plan for natural treatments for your specific type of esophagitis to help boost digestive health and immunity, in some cases.

General Self-Care (41)

1. Take small bites of food, chew thoroughly (especially meats and firm vegetables) and drink plenty of water with pills or meals.
2. Ask your physician if you can crush any pills that you take, or if liquid versions are available.
3. Go to the emergency room for help dislodging any food that you cannot swallow or remove within one hour, or any stuck food that makes it hard to breathe. They can use a small tube to help remove the food or push it down into your stomach.
4. Don’t smoke.
5. Avoid medications that can cause or worsen esophagitis. Let your pharmacist and health care professional know about your diagnosis any time you get a new prescription or need to take an over-the-counter pill.
6. Follow the steps for reflux self-care no matter what type of diagnosis you have, so that any acid reflux you may have will not make your condition worse.

Natural Reflux Esophagitis Self-Care (42)

1. Avoid food and drinks that can aggravate acid reflux. Consider following a diet to reduce acid reflux or another esophagitis diet plan you develop with your health care provider.
2. Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of two or three large meals.
3. Stay upright for three hours after eating.
4. Insert a wedge under the top of your bed (pillows don’t do the trick) to elevate your head at least 6 inches while you sleep.
5. Limit alcohol intake.
6. Lose excess weight.
7. Consider herbal remedies to relieve or prevent heartburn and reflux, such as licorice, chamomile, slippery elm, marshmallow and more. Because these may interact with medications, always check with your doctor before using a new herb or supplement.
8. Reduce stress and anxiety by exercising or using relaxation techniques to help reduce your reflux.
9. Ask your health care provider whether acupuncture is safe for you. Provided you have no health reasons to avoid it, acupuncture may help reduce regurgitation and heartburn.

Natural Eosinophilic Esophagitis Self-Care

1. Avoid the allergens causing your inflammation. If you do not know which foods or environmental allergens have caused your condition, ask your doctor about allergy testing. You can also work with a dietitian or allergist to do a formal elimination diet. (43)
2. Follow the steps for naturally managing reflux esophagitis as well, since many people with eosinophilic esophagitis also experience some GERD symptoms that can make their condition worse. (44)
3. Ask if you could benefit from an elemental diet, which replaces food with an amino acid-based formula. (45)

Natural Drug-Induced Esophagitis Self-Care (46, 47)

1. Drink an entire glass of water each time you take a pill (including supplements and vitamins), unless your doctor tells you not to.
2. Stay upright (sit or stand) for 30 minutes or more after taking a pill. This helps the pill reach your stomach and helps your saliva clear any residue from your esophagus.
3. Ask your health care provider if you can stop or temporarily discontinue any medications you are on that may be causing the problem. You can also ask if a different medication can be taken or if a liquid version is available.

Natural Infectious Esophagitis Self-Care

1. Take supplements and/or adjust your diet to help boost your immunity. However, always consult a health care professional before starting or stopping a supplement, since many natural compounds can interact with medications. (48)
   • Consider taking a general multivitamin to make sure you do not have micronutrient deficiencies. (49)
   • Ask your doctor if the top supplements that are believed to boost immunity may be beneficial for you. Popular choices include echinacea, ginger, probiotics, vitamin D and more.
   • According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can also obtain immune system benefits from getting plenty of vitamins C, B6, and E in your diet. (50) Do this by eating plenty of green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, salmon, tuna, chicken, chick peas, nuts and seeds.
2. Ask your health care provider if you might benefit from dietary changes, such as an anti-inflammatory diet or a diet to help reduce yeast. (51)
   • Dietary changes that may reduce inflammation include avoiding fried foods, refined carbohydrates, red meat, sugar-sweetened drinks, and animal fats. (52)
   • Berries, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, olive oil, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables are believed to reduce inflammation. (53)
   • Dietary changes to fight yeast overgrowth, in case your infection is related to yeast, include changes called the candida diet. Changes include following a low-sugar diet, using coconut oil as a mouthwash, and eating probiotics. (54)
3. Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest to help you fight your infection. (55, 56)
4. Ask your doctor if any immunosuppressant drugs you are taking can be reduced or eliminated. (57)
5. Follow the natural treatment recommendations for reflux esophagitis as well. (58)

Precautions

If you have chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes, get emergency care. You should also get care right away if you have food stuck in your esophagus; chest pain or shortness of breath soon after eating; difficulty breathing after you vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds or is yellow, green, or looks like it has blood in it.

If left untreated, esophagitis can cause serious damage to the esophagus. It can scar the tissue in the food pipe and make it narrower. These strictures can make it very difficult to swallow food. The lining of the esophagus can also be torn when food gets stuck and causes retching, or during an endoscopy if swelling is severe. Finally, untreated esophagitis increases your risk of Barrett’s esophagus. This is a condition in which cells of the esophagus start to change and increase your risk of esophageal cancer. (59)

Key Points

• When the lining of the food pipe gets irritated, swollen or inflamed, it is called esophagitis. In many cases, it has a cause that is fairly straightforward, such as infection or a food allergy.
• There are many natural ways to treat your symptoms and speed your healing.
• With proper management, this disease can either be resolved or at least held in check. However, some types are chronic and require long-term care and prevention efforts to avoid serious health problems.
• Do not attempt to self-diagnose your type of esophagitis.
• If you have esophagitis, follow the advice of your health care provider to treat it and to prevent complications now or in the future.

Each type of esophagitis may require unique natural therapies to improve symptoms. However, in general, there are some tips that may benefit your health if you have this diagnosis:

Natural Ways to Help Manage Esophagitis

1. Take small bites of food and chew thoroughly to avoid choking.
2. Drink plenty of water with pills or meals.
3. Ask your physician if you can crush any pills that you take, or if liquid versions are available.
4. Go to the emergency room for help dislodging any food that you cannot swallow within one hour, or that makes it hard to breathe.
5. Don’t smoke.
6. Avoid medications that can cause or worsen esophagitis.
7. Follow the steps for reflux self-care, such as the GERD diet, raising the head of your bed, reducing stress, staying upright for three hours after eating.

Read Next: Pancreatitis Symptoms: 11 Natural Ways to Prevent & Manage

Eating After Your Esophageal Surgery

After your esophageal surgery, you can expect some difficulty swallowing. If food sticks when you eat, it is called “dysphagia.” This is due to swelling around your surgery site and will most likely resolve in a few weeks. It is normal to feel “tight” for up to 10-12 week, but you should be able to advance your diet slowly. If your diet is not progressing by the time of your post-operative clinic visit, your doctor may suggest an outpatient procedure to help things along (outpatient endoscopy with esophageal dilation).

To help you through this temporary phase, we start you out on a pureed diet. Full liquid diet means essentially anything that you can pour and pureed is usually a little bit thicker. You should have been given at least a full liquid diet by the time you left the hospital. We ask patients to stay on pureed diet for the first two weeks to avoid anything getting “stuck” near your recent surgery. At the end of this packet are some suggestions for your diet in the first few weeks after your surgery (level 1-4). Don’t be alarmed if your ability to swallow doesn’t progress according to this plan. Everyone is different and some take longer or shorter to heal after surgery. Use common sense, if you are having trouble swallowing a particular food then avoid it. If food is sticking when you advance your diet, go back to the previous diet for a day or two.

In general, some simple rules to follow are:

• Maintain an upright position (as near 90 degrees as possible) whenever eating or drinking.

• Take small bites, only ½ to 1 teaspoon at a time at first.

• Eat slowly. It may also help to eat only one food at a time.

• Avoid talking while eating.

• Do not mix solid foods and liquids in the same mouthful and do not “wash foods down” with liquids, unless you have been instructed to do so by your surgeon. If you do feel that your meal is a bit “sticky,” a small amount of warm liquid may help, but avoid drinking too much, or you may feel uncomfortable.

• Eat in a relaxed atmosphere, with no distractions.

• Following each meal, sit in an upright position (90-degree angle) for 30 to 45 minutes.

• Avoid carbonated (bubbly) drinks — they will make you feel bloated.

• If food does stick, don’t panic. Try to relax and let the food pass on its own. Sipping strong, hot black tea or warm broth can also help.

Staying Hydrated

It is important to avoid dehydration, so drink lots of fluids, at least 64 oz. of liquids daily. Cold beverages may cause painful esophageal spasms; room temperature or warmer liquids are often easier to drink. A daily multivitamin is also recommended. Most people will lose 5 – 10 pounds after surgery, depending on what they choose to eat.

Smoothies

Smoothies or nutrition shakes are always a good choice throughout your recovery but especially in the first few weeks. There are multiple store bought options such as Ensure^®, Carnation^® instant breakfast, Boost^® and even Gatorade^® nutrition shakes. These choices are often expensive, but they are convenient. Many people prefer to make their own nutritious drinks with their favorite fruits, protein powder, yogurt, and vitamin supplements. Feel free to experiment. You can hide a lot of healthy vegetables in a fruit smoothie without ruining the taste (examples are avocado, sweet potatoes, even leafy vegetables such as spinach or kale). Try to supplement with at least 50 grams of protein each day for the first few weeks (about 2-3 scoops of most powdered brands). If you need ideas, there are recipes on the internet.

This information has been approved by Emily Speer, MD (January 2017).

Food for reflux gastritis – Vesti-Kuzbass

Nutrition for reflux gastritis forms the basis of effective treatment. Spicy, fatty, smoked are removed from the menu. The diet should be balanced, the food should be steamed, boiled or baked.

Correctly selected food for reflux gastritis relieves nausea, belching and heartburn after meals. Strict adherence to the diet prescribed by the attending physician is the key to recovery, but does not cancel the intake of medications.When drawing up the menu, you also need to take into account the individual intolerance of products and the stage of development of the disease.

Diet: how to eat with reflux gastritis?

Basic rules

Overeating and starvation negatively affect the state of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, the patient’s diet should be rich in micro-, macronutrients, vitamins and contain a sufficient amount of calories.

The optimal diet for esophagitis and gastritis will be helped by a nutritionist, or you can find it on the website https: // etozheludok.ru /, however, if this is not possible, you must follow the following recommendations of doctors:

• Shown fractional meals 4-5 times a day in small portions. Calorie count is calculated based on physical parameters.
• You can’t eat at night.
• If a patient is diagnosed with obesity, then the amount of calories received should be less than consumed. For this, it is recommended to have a special notebook.
• The diet is composed of liquid or chopped meals to reduce the stress on the gastrointestinal tract.
• Food is being cooked, stewed or steamed. Fried and smoked foods are excluded.
• If even a weak feeling of hunger appears, you should immediately have a snack so as not to provoke the production of gastric juice.
• The optimum temperature is warm. Hot and cold food and drinks are bad for the stomach.
• It is recommended to drink 1 glass of water before meals to reduce the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. You can also drink potato juice.
• After eating, it is better to walk, but in no case lie down.
• In the acute stage, it is worth wearing clothing that does not restrict movement. It is better to remove the belt.

The approximate amount of required elements is presented in the table: Nutrients Norm, g / day. Protein 80-90 Carbohydrates 310-350 Fats 70-80

What can you eat?

According to the recommendations of doctors, the diet for gastric reflux gastritis is based on dishes that act like alkali:

• any fully cooked cereals;
• soups: dairy soups, based on vegetables, with the addition of cereals;
• meat, fish soufflés;
• beef, chicken, turkey;
• pike perch, hake, carp;
• baked and boiled potatoes;
• white bread, rusks;
• egg soufflé and puffed omelet;
• low-fat cottage cheese, milk, kefir, yogurt;
• vegetables chopped in a blender;
• apples, pears;
• beets, carrots.

No need to add spices during cooking, minimal amount of salt. You can drink jelly, weak black tea with milk, rosehip and berry decoction, compote. The most useful mineral water, which lowers the acidity of the stomach. Herbal tinctures based on chamomile, dandelion, plantain, motherwort have a good effect on the digestive tract. They are best taken at bedtime as they are relaxing.

What not to eat?

Diet for reflux esophagitis, especially during an exacerbation, completely excludes the use of such dishes:

• fatty broths based on meat and fish;

90,019 fresh bakery products;

• fatty, commercial sauces;
• sour fruits: citrus, kiwi, pineapple;
• salty, smoked, pickled, spicy dishes;
• vegetables that provoke gas: cabbage, radish, radish, onion, artichoke;
• fermented milk products;
• honey, jam;
• nuts;

90,019 fast food;

• sparkling water;
• caffeinated drinks.

After recovery and in the period of remission, you can include some dishes from the red list in the menu, but in small dosages. It is important to remember that neglected gastritis reflux is fraught with complications such as esophageal perforation or erosive esophagitis, which cannot be detected on a superficial examination. Therefore, even after recovery, it is necessary to monitor the diet. If you experience heartburn, belching, or stomach pain, you should revert to a strict diet. Fruits and vegetables with high acidity are strictly prohibited.

When negative symptoms appear, doctors recommend quickly eating a sweet fruit: banana, pear, apple. Nausea and heartburn will disappear in 5-10 minutes.

Sample menu

Diet for esophagitis may include the following meals for every day:

• First breakfast:
  • oatmeal;
  • rosehip broth.
• Second breakfast:
  • baked pear with cottage cheese.
• Lunch:
  • vegetable soup with buckwheat;
  • fish soufflé;
  • mashed potatoes.
• Afternoon snack:
  • carrot and apple salad.
• Dinner:
  • steamed carp;
  • boiled rice;
  • herbal tincture.
• Second supper:
  • glass of homemade yogurt.

The approximate diet does not take into account the individual characteristics of the patient and possible negative reactions to individual ingredients. Treatment of biliary reflux gastritis takes a long time, so it is recommended to plan ahead for several weeks in advance to maintain a variety of meals.If the condition worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diet for diseases of the esophagus: menu, basic rules

In diseases of the digestive tract, diet therapy plays a primary role, which, together with medications, will help fight the main symptoms. Nutrition for diseases of the esophagus should be agreed with the attending gastroenterologist. What are the basic principles of the diet, what foods are allowed for a certain type of ailment?

Esophageal disease will require a special diet for a speedy recovery and prevention of relapse.

Basic rules of the diet for diseases of the esophagus

The main discomfort that a person experiences with diseases of the esophagus is difficulty in the swallowing process, when food seems to get stuck in the throat and causes painful sensations that can sometimes be so strong that they can be confused with heart an attack. With diseases of the esophagus, a person may have severe heartburn, belching food, bad breath. According to these symptoms, it is necessary to adhere to a certain dietary rule.

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Disease of the esophagus and diet

The main rule that people who suffer from disease of the esophagus must follow is the consumption of food that has a puree consistency. Dishes should be at a comfortable temperature, as food that is too hot or too cold can irritate the already inflamed organ walls. If you adhere to the principles of proper nutrition with such an ailment, then not only will it be possible to cure the esophagus, but also to prevent a re-exacerbation.Nutrition for various diseases of the digestive tract differs depending on the specificity of a particular ailment, depending on what symptoms bother a person.

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Diet with esophagitis

With esophagitis, inflammation of the mucous epithelium of the esophagus occurs. With esophagitis, a person may experience inflammatory infectious diseases of the pharynx, since the organ is constantly irritated, and if a person also eats rough food, then the mucous membrane may have wounds, trauma and erosion.Most often, this ailment is accompanied by a burning sensation in the chest. Patients may complain of a feeling as if food is stuck in the throat, with pain and excessive salivation.

In case of inflammation of the esophageal mucosa, it is important to eat puree, boiled, chopped foods.

The diet for esophagitis involves the use of sparing foods, which should be crushed as much as possible, preferably to a puree-like consistency. Meals should be frequent, at least 5-6 times a day, meals should be steamed, boiled, baked in the oven or grilled.Food should not be too salty, spicy or sour, and the temperature should be comfortable.

If there is a period of exacerbation of the disease, in this case, in agreement with the doctor, you can arrange for yourself a full fasting day. When symptoms begin to subside, it may be helpful to consume warm milk, raw eggs, vegetarian puree soups, and viscous cereals. Vegetable oils such as sea buckthorn oil, corn oil and olive oil have beneficial properties of fats. They are taken no more than 1 tbsp.l. before eating food. Mineral water without gas has healing properties for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

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Menu for reflux

In case of esophageal reflux, the work of the sphincter, which is located in the lower part of the stomach, is disrupted. In this case, it happens that the contents of the stomach are thrown back into the oral cavity. As a result, the mucous membrane of the esophagus becomes inflamed, erosion, wounds and ulcers can form on it, which worsen the patient’s condition.If esophageal reflux is not treated in time, it will develop into esophagitis. The main symptoms of reflux are attacks of severe heartburn and the release of stomach contents into the mouth. This is an unsafe phenomenon, since with constant irritation of the mucous walls of the organ, the formation of erosions begins, and if you do not start timely therapy, then a complication such as an esophageal ulcer may develop.

Food for such a disease should be semi-liquid, better chopped to a puree state.You need to eat often, every 2-2.5 hours in small portions. With reflux, the main condition for eliminating regurgitation is to control the amount of food consumed, so overeating is excluded. In order not to throw the contents of the stomach back into the oral cavity, after eating it is necessary to stay in an upright position for about 1.5 hours. If the patient is worried about frequent bouts of heartburn, then in this case, you can use mineral water, which has the property of alkalizing the acidic environment in the stomach.It is recommended to drink this water 40 minutes before eating.

It is necessary to adhere to the daily regimen and do not eat late at night, as this will contribute to a strong release of undigested food back into the oral cavity. Dinner should be no later than 2 hours before bedtime, while foods should be easy to digest, so as not to burden the stomach once again. It can be viscous oatmeal with the addition of a couple of tablespoons of milk and honey for taste; cottage cheese with permitted fruit and herbal tea with honey are perfect for dinner.

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Diet for peptic ulcer

During an exacerbation of this disease, a person suffers from severe pain in the chest and under the ribs. In this case, the degree of increase in painful sensations depends on what products the patient consumes during such a period. For peptic ulcers, nutrition should be gentle, free of irritating foods and additives. The table should contain a balanced amount of the necessary substances in order to maintain the normal functioning of the body.

In case of peptic ulcer, the menu should contain liquid and semi-liquid dishes, exclude coarse food, food that contains a lot of salt, sugar, fat. Viscous cereals are well suited for nutrition, to which, if desired, you can add low-fat milk and permitted fruits. Kissels, which can be prepared on the basis of milk or on the basis of fruit broth, have useful and medicinal properties; low-fat varieties should be preferred from meat. It is better to replace black tea and coffee with herbal teas, which will help eliminate inflammation, some can even relieve painful sensations and bouts of heartburn.For drinking, compote, fresh juices, fruit drinks and still mineral water are suitable, which must be consumed according to the scheme agreed with the doctor.

In case of achalasia of the esophagus, it is better to eat more soups and liquid dishes, in small portions and leisurely. The table for such a disease should contain liquid and semi-liquid dishes of a comfortable temperature, which should be consumed every 2-2.5 hours in small portions.To facilitate the passage of food through the esophagus, it is recommended to drink it with small sips of mineral water. Special exercises that are aimed at developing the work of the diaphragm will be able to help the passage of food. However, before starting to do them, it is worth consulting with your doctor, as some of the exercises can worsen the condition.

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Diverticulum

This is a disease characterized by the presence of protrusions in the esophagus that prevent the normal passage of food through the organ.If the diverticulum is small, then it may not cause any discomfort, however, with an increase, a person may experience a feeling of a foreign body in the esophagus, nausea, and bad breath.

With such a disease, food should be fractional, it is better that the food is sparing, it must be chewed thoroughly. If the diverticulum is very disturbing and does not allow the food lump to move normally along the esophagus, then it is recommended to drink 1 tablespoon of olive oil before meals. Food can be taken with warm mineral water.

In case of hiatal hernia, it will be correct to eat in small portions, unhurriedly, giving preference to “light” dishes. Most often, the ailment worries people of age, since all the muscles of the body, including the abdominal muscles, are weakened. With such a disease as such, symptoms are not observed, however, sometimes heartburn, chest pain, belching can be disturbed.Nutritional recommendations are that you need to eat in small portions, try not to overeat, and do not consume milk, fatty foods, sweets, soda, and so on. Food should be light, but at the same time satisfying. Dishes are prepared with minimal use of fats, salt and hot spices. The last meal should be no later than 2.5 hours before bedtime.

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Nutrition in case of erosion

In case of erosion or peptic ulcer disease, a person is often disturbed by bouts of heartburn, abdominal pain, especially after eating, belching, and sometimes vomiting.Erosion can periodically inflame, therefore, during such a period, you must strictly monitor your diet. In case of erosion, the table should consist of gentle products and dishes, while it is necessary to adhere to the balance of the content of essential substances and microelements in the diet. You need to eat fractionally, the last meal should not be just before bedtime. Official sites of casinos with slot machines are in demand, so spinning the reels for real deposits is a very popular entertainment. Play the best online slots with no problems.Get your winnings in any way you can, but don’t waste time on pirate portals.

If erosion worsens, then during this period it is necessary to take dishes that have enveloping properties that help eliminate inflammation. These are dairy products, natural yogurt, cottage cheese, viscous cereals, slimy soups, boiled lean meat and fish, herbal teas and mineral water. From the sweet with erosion, you can eat marshmallows, marshmallows, marmalade, dried fruits, fresh fruits.However, their number should be limited, since they sometimes contribute to the excess production of hydrochloric acid, which will irritate the mucous membrane and erosion.

Diets for gastrointestinal diseases // Dietetics

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic recurrent disease caused by a spontaneous, regularly recurring discharge of gastric and / or duodenal contents into the esophagus, leading to damage to the lower esophagus.In the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, the environment is different. Therefore, when the environment, unusual for the overlying section, gets there, irritation and inflammation occur. In these cases, clinical manifestations of the disease are observed, such as abdominal pain, belching, heartburn, often a person can feel a sour or bitter taste in the mouth. Overweight people are prone to reflux disease. Many do not take this disease seriously, but after all, inflammation initially forms in the esophagus, and then various erosions and ulcers appear, which heal very poorly.The esophagus is a kind of tube that carries food, and the stomach is a reservoir for the pills we take. It is very important to understand that when treating this disease, it is very difficult to keep the pill at the level of the esophagus. If a person notices any symptoms in himself, he must undergo an examination, as a result of which it will be clear how much the process has started, and only after that therapy is prescribed. In this case, antisecretory drugs are used, which reduce the amount of acid in the stomach.If its contents do get up, it becomes less aggressive to the esophagus. Prokinetics improve motor skills, leveling out casts, and create the correct passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Also, a number of enveloping alginates are used in the treatment.

When treating a disease, it is very important to change the patient’s lifestyle. In order not to provoke casts, after eating, you cannot take a horizontal position, it is better to do quiet housework or go for a walk. It is imperative to sleep with the head end of the bed raised at least 15%.If a person is overweight, it must be removed. The treatment excludes products and drugs that contribute to the relaxation of the sphincter (separating the esophagus from the stomach) and increased reflux: mints, chewing gums, tea with additives. A whole group of drugs is also excluded, for example, calcium channel blockers. All this should take place under the supervision of a doctor, so this disease must be taken very seriously.

Gastritis and duodenitis

In the autumn-spring period, gastritis and duodenitis are often exacerbated.Schoolchildren often eat irregularly and improperly, experience stress, which becomes one of the main factors in the development of the disease. We must not forget that heredity can also become one of the causes of the disease.

The initial signs of the disease may be the usual redness, attention should be paid to abdominal pain, and it is very important to determine what their nature is. Pain appears before, after or during meals, how intense it is. All these measures suggest where the inflammatory focus is.After passing the examination, you need to help the patient compose a diet and prescribe the appropriate drugs, which, again, are selected from antisecretory, enveloping and prokinetics. Enzymes help the pancreas work. All these factors are taken into account in the complex therapy of diseases.

DIETOLOGY

Diets are very important in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Previously, it was believed that patients need a cleaned table, in which the principle of mechanical sparing is observed. For the recovery period, you need to forget about fried foods, food should be steamed, boiled, baked without a crust, and, ultimately, wiped off.But in mashed food, very few useful substances remain; for an adult, such food is less physiological. Now, in case of an ulcer defect for several days, the patient is advised to adhere to the pureed food option with a further gradual transition to a denser mechanical food. If initially meat gache is offered, then later you can cook meatballs, cutlets – anything that is easy to chew. Food should be very soft and fluffy.

There is also the principle of chemical sparing, which implies the exclusion from the diet of components that enhance secretory activity.In addition to drugs, there are foods that increase or decrease secretion. The first thing that lies on the surface is various seasonings, juices, smoked and salted food, canned food, which must be immediately excluded. During the recovery period, patients are advised to cook vegetarian soups, eat steamed meat or fish, eat foods that have a beneficial effect on secretion – milk and dairy products (except in cases of individual intolerance). It is very good to cook porridge in milk during this period.It is recommended to drink warm milk in small sips during the day. I want to note that you should not buy cottage cheese with additives, it is better to buy ordinary cottage cheese and, if you want something sweet, add a little jam to it. We must not forget that some patients are very sensitive to acid, and in this situation it is better to cook cottage cheese at home – it turns out fresh, soft and not at all sour. If you are overweight, have problems with the gallbladder or liver, when we recommend limiting the fat content, you can buy low-fat cottage cheese.There has been a period in which studies have emerged showing that low-fat foods contribute to impaired calcium absorption, but there is still debate on this issue. To date, it has not been observed that patients losing weight on low-fat foods experience a lack of fat. I think, in any case, there should be an individual approach to each patient.

When a person has a defect associated with the gastrointestinal tract, for tissue healing, protein must be consumed, which is a building block.Protein is found in meat, fish, cottage cheese and eggs (during the recovery period, you can only eat scrambled eggs or soft-boiled eggs). Meat should be chosen not sinewy, giving preference to poultry breast, rabbit, young beef, lean pork. You can cook any fish, but, first of all, it is better to pay attention to the white varieties. Again, the fish should be steamed, boiled, or baked without a crust, in no case should it be fried or rolled in breadcrumbs. To preserve vitamins, fish should not be subjected to prolonged heat treatment.We recommend that a patient who has an acute inflammatory process exclude living fiber from the diet. But you can bake apples, steam vegetables. For example, broccoli and cauliflower are softer than white cabbage, so avoid the latter. Berries are recommended to be consumed in the form of compotes. It is very good to drink decoctions of blueberries, rose hips.

GET PLEASURE FROM EATING WITH ANY DISEASE

But with any disease, the patient should enjoy food.To date, there are already studies proving that in this case, the body’s defenses are activated in a person and the healing of the ulcerative process takes place faster. Therefore, even if, against the background of a strict diet, you periodically allow yourself some liberties, the healing process will come faster, the main thing is that there is no obvious periodicity. Doctor’s sausage and sausages are allowed once a week. If a person loves sauces, you need to cook only natural ones – for example, from sour cream. If you like sweets, you can bake curds in the oven, making your own berry sauce to flavor the bland taste of food.It is very good to cook jelly during an exacerbation, which have an enveloping property. Oat broth, which is prepared only from real oats, has the same property. It can be used on the recommendation of a doctor and simply for the prevention of disease.

When treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to refuse coffee and strong tea. You can pamper yourself with jams, sweets made from agar – these include marshmallows, marmalades. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy, a gradual expansion of the diet is possible.

TO FAST WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT

There are works confirming the miracle of fasting, but I would not advise it to a person without a doctor’s appointment. Of course, a patient who is trying to lose weight is recommended unloading and dietary therapy, which should be carried out under medical supervision, because its consequences can affect the endocrine, cardiovascular system. There are fasting days, the so-called “zigzag system”. For example, you can arrange a protein fasting day – fat and carbohydrate metabolism in this case rest.But unloading cannot be carried out for more than two days in a row. As a rule, the same type of diet contributes to a deficiency in the intake of other substances. I am sure that with any disease, a person should come to a balanced diet. But sometimes you can shake yourself up, especially after hectic feasts. But in any case, do not starve, simply by limiting yourself in nutrition. You can individually select products for the fasting day, it can be apples, meat with vegetables, cottage cheese with milk, or something else.The main thing is that there must be a competent approach to everything. If a person wants to undergo a medical unloading, it is imperative to consult a doctor. For example, if you want to eliminate puffiness, the Karelian diet is used – the patient drinks only warm milk all day.

As a rule, with obesity, a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and gallbladder is necessarily identified. In this case, the diet must be selected individually. A ketogenic diet that contains fats is not recommended for patients with liver problems. If a person nevertheless chose some kind of diet from the Internet, after a few days he himself will begin to feel if something goes wrong.For example, there may be pain in the head or abdomen, a general feeling of discomfort. In this case, you should stop the diet and consult a dietitian. The most important thing is not to hurt yourself. One of the most popular diets, the Kremlin one, is based on the use of protein with a decrease in carbohydrates. But it is not recommended for people who are experiencing kidney failure.

It is necessary to treat diets strictly, initially knowing the indicators of your body – a general analysis of blood, urine, biochemical analysis of blood; it is recommended to undergo an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity beforehand.It is imperative to watch the lipid spectrum of the blood. Previously, there was a system of medical examination, unfortunately, now it is a thing of the past. To draw up a diet, it is important to understand if everything is in order inside the body, to analyze the diet, to exclude hormonal shifts, in which glucose absorption worsens, and the poor functioning of the pancreas. If everything is done correctly, indeed, against the background of proper treatment and diet, a person will lose weight without irreversible consequences for the body. We must not forget that any diet must be supported by physical activity.Very often diets come across, the effect of losing weight from which is short-lived.

PREVENTION

Exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases can be year-round, but most often they occur in spring and autumn. As a rule, a person who has had similar symptoms for a long time knows in advance that it is time to do an examination and take appropriate measures. Parents, on the other hand, should monitor the nutrition of school-age children, try to avoid stress.

For the prevention of diseases, it is very important to follow dietary recommendations.You can not abuse fried and fatty foods, alcohol, eat dry food. You need to eat 3-4 times a day. You can’t gorge yourself at night, because the stomach refuses to work properly, as a result of which congestion occurs that provokes inflammation.

If a person suffered from any gastrointestinal disease, I recommend enveloping therapy – a decoction of oats and flax seeds. If pain occurs or any other clinical manifestations occur, consult a doctor immediately.

People suffering from gastrointestinal diseases should not forget about sanatorium rehabilitation methods in the fall.because complex therapy has a beneficial effect. Be sure to follow the rhythm of your diet and choose the right foods.

Diseases of the esophagus and stomach | Clinic “Medline” in Kemerovo

The esophagus is an organ that is an anatomical and functional continuation of the pharynx, as well as all other organs of the human body, prone to a number of diseases that pose a serious threat to health and even life.

All disorders in the work of this digestive organ are classified according to various signs and criteria.Depending on the type of disease, a certain treatment tactic is being developed, therefore, a very important point is to establish the correct diagnosis, based on the symptoms of the disease and the results of the examinations performed.

Esophagitis (inflammatory diseases of the esophagus)

Esophagitis is an inflammatory lesion of the mucous membrane of the esophageal opening. Of all the diseases of the specified digestive organ, esophagitis occurs most often – it is diagnosed in 30-40% of cases.

The main symptoms of this disease are:

• burning pain in the chest region
• violation of the process of swallowing food
• heartburn
• increased salivation

The inflammatory process affects the inner mucous wall of the esophagus, but with further progression of the disease, it can move to deeper layers.

Reasons for appearance:

• damage of various nature to the walls of the esophagus due to mechanical, chemical or thermal factors;
• Throwing gastric juice from the stomach into the esophageal opening, etc.

Distinguish between acute and chronic esophagitis. In the latter case, the pain syndrome is less pronounced than in the acute phase of the disease.

Treatment of acute esophagitis is:

• in restriction or complete exclusion of food for 1-2 days, followed by the appointment of a special diet
• in taking drugs of the antacid group and famotidine
• complete smoking cessation
• in antibiotic therapy (in the presence of an infectious process)
• in the appointment of painkillers (with severe pain syndrome)

Chronic esophagitis treatment:

• strict adherence to a sparing diet, involving the exclusion of coarse, spicy, fatty foods and alcohol from the diet
• quitting smoking and taking certain medications that negatively affect the sphincters of the digestive system (for example, sedatives)
• refusal to eat 2-3 hours before meals
• taking drugs that increase the sphincter tone

Ulcer

Esophageal ulcer – ulceration of the organ wall as a result of the damaging effect of gastric juice thrown into it in case of insufficiency of the esophageal sphincter (cardia).Distinguish between symptomatic and peptic (true) ulcers of the esophagus. Symptomatic ulcers occur when the body is exposed to drugs, chemicals, and also under the influence of stress. Peptic ulcers form as a result of the negative impact of gastric juice on the walls of the esophagus.

Esophageal ulcer symptoms:

• frequent heartburn
• belching with stomach contents
• dysphagia (pathological violation of the swallowing process), choking on food
• chest pain, often worse after eating

Disease Treatment:

• Temporary refusal of food containing animal fats, as well as coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, fried, spicy and canned foods
• use of antacids (neutralize the irritating effect of hydrochloric acid)
• reception of astringents
• prescription of drugs that stimulate the healing of the mucous membrane
• prokinetics (restore gastrointestinal motility)
• surgical treatment (with ineffectiveness of conservative therapy)

Vascular diseases

Vascular diseases of the esophagus include varicose veins of this organ, angioma and some other pathologies, accompanied by a violation of the state of the vessels in the esophageal opening.Bleeding is a characteristic general symptom. The rest of the signs depend on the type of ailment.

Esophageal varicose veins – occurs in patients suffering from arterial hypertension, with compression of the superior vena cava or in the case of a general increase in pressure in heart failure. Before bleeding begins, varicose veins are usually asymptomatic. The disease can be detected by X-ray examination or esophagoscopy.Treatment of varicose veins should be aimed at effectively eliminating the threat of bleeding. It is especially important to eliminate the symptoms of the underlying disease that caused the vascular pathology. Also, patients are shown the appointment of a special diet, limitation of physical activity, periodic intake of antacids and astringent drugs.

Esophageal angioma is a hemorrhagic syndrome of vascular origin. It can also be classified as a benign tumor.Treatment of angioma consists in its removal with a special loop.

Developmental anomalies. These include a number of violations in the structure and functioning of this organ:

• esophageal diverticula
• stenosis
• aplasia
• congenital anomalies (doubling of the esophagus, congenital cyst, etc.).

Esophageal stenosis is a congenital or acquired narrowing of the diameter of the esophageal opening, which leads to a violation of the process of swallowing food and makes it difficult to move towards the stomach.There are 4 degrees of development of stenosis: narrowing of the hole up to 9-11 mm (first degree) and up to 1-2 mm (fourth degree).

Depending on the degree of development of the disease, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

• Swallowing disorder (dysphagia)
• profuse salivation
• Regurgitation of undiluted milk (in infants with a congenital form of the disease)

Treatment of stenosis consists in prescribing a gentle diet, excluding solid foods from the diet, and taking astringents and antacids.From medical methods, endoprosthetics, balloon dilation or bougienage are indicated.

Spasms and paralysis – occur in the event of a violation of the neuroreflex functions of the act. Esophagospasm is usually accompanied by a short-term, but very sharp spasm of the surrounding muscles. The causes of the disease have not been finally established: it is possible that the cause of spasm is the effect of negative emotions on the human body. The main symptom is dysphagia – difficulty in swallowing a food lump or water.Esophageal spasm can be primary (occurs against the background of neurosis) or secondary (observed when a foreign body enters the esophagus, the development of an inflammatory process). Treatment consists in excluding the impact of a traumatic factor (for example, removing a foreign body) or reducing the intensity of neuropsychic experiences.

Esophageal paralysis can develop in patients suffering from scleroderma, myasthenia gravis or under the influence of intoxication with botulism, diphtheria, alcoholism and some other conditions.As a result of loss of muscle tone in patients, dysphagia develops, with loss of sensitivity of the pharynx, the swallowing reflex may be impaired, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia.

Treatment consists in eliminating the damaging effect of the factors that caused the specified condition.

Damage is the most common mechanical damage to the esophagus. Distinguish between damage to the cervical, thoracic and abdominal esophagus.The most common injuries are the cervical spine, which occurs when foreign bodies (such as fish bones) enter the esophagus from the larynx.

According to the depth of the injury, there are:

• non-penetrating injuries (abrasions, hematomas)
• stab, cut, gunshot, torn and other violations of the integrity of the walls of the esophagus

Symptoms: severe pain when swallowing, bleeding during meals, general deterioration of the patient’s condition.

Pay attention

The consequences of any damage to this organ must be eliminated as early as possible, so a visit to a doctor or an ambulance call is mandatory! Tumors of the esophagus, according to the generally accepted classification, are divided into benign and malignant.

The most common benign tumor is leiomyoma, a tumor that affects the smooth muscles of the esophagus. Among malignant tumors of the esophagus, carcinoma and lymphoma are known.The first and most pronounced symptom of the development of a benign or malignant tumor is difficulty in swallowing solid food – dysphagia. You should definitely consult a doctor for a diagnostic examination.

Treatment of tumors is mainly surgical. As an additional treatment, chemotherapy and the appointment of a special diet are used.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you feel discomfort in the esophagus, be sure to consult a gastroenterologist at the Medline clinic in Kemerovo! There is every opportunity to undergo a complete examination in order to establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Individual diet – “How I completely changed my nutritional system! Temporary difficulties or a sentence, depending on how you relate to it. Nutrition for diseases of the stomach, biliary tract, liver and other delights with the gastrointestinal tract is my individual way! ”

As a child, very often she was hospitalized with abdominal pains of unclear etymology, intestinal colic, suspicion of appendicitis and the like.
As a student, I once again ended up in the hospital and thought it was time to write a will! Have you been treated? – yes, they did not treat me with anything, they just anesthetized me – they stabbed me with noshpa and hunger, for 3 days there was a complete lack of food, for 4 days in the morning I was shaking with weakness, it was getting dark in my eyes, finally, for my happiness, the weekend ended and the doctors came to bypass, seeing my condition the doctor barked “Feed.”And I really didn’t even have the strength to speak. They brought me semolina porridge in water without salt and sugar, OH GODS – THIS WAS THE MOST DELICIOUS Porridge in my entire life! Then the doctor – a wise guy with experience, told me that the best diet for the gastrointestinal tract is hunger! Something like this! Now I sometimes practice fasting days!
It was then that I began to examine my body, I found an excellent doctor who finally found the disadvantages in my gastrointestinal tract, and there were a lot of them, ranging from TFR, ending with the usual standard neglected gastritis, throwing bile into the esophagus, not everything was so rosy with my bilious, sagging intestines and other delights.I had to do a lot of research, but thanks that they were correctly selected by the doctor, nothing superfluous, everything only necessary for making diagnoses.
The most important and depressing fact was the condition of changing the power supply system – completely !!!
At that time, it sounded like a sentence to me! Well, what did the students eat, butters, hamburgers, all sorts of bad food from the canteen, dry bread, what cereals, broth and casseroles are – no, you haven’t heard of them! ”
remissions, they were corrected by a doctor.So I got acquainted with treatment tables (diets) according to Pevzner.
At that time, I groaned, why am I going to eat that! and how can you eat it at all? !! Glancing at the list of sample meals from the diet, my stomach gurgled nervously.

So let’s get down to the point – my individual diet, which I made on the recommendation of my gastroenterologist, is gentle and suitable for me!
The essence of this diet is to unload our digestive system, relieving it of harm and, first of all, to give a break from the stress of the liver and bile, and since I had slightly exceeded liver samples, the presence of several hemangiomas in the history, and plus the throw of bile is considerable , swallowed this “candy” with a wire for diagnostics, brrr… some of not the most pleasant memories – how to live half a day with a foreign body in the stomach is generally a separate story … then another pleasure …
You need to learn to eat literally anew, fractionally, in small portions, cooking only for steamed, boiled or stewed, you can occasionally afford something baked.
Such a diet can not only benefit in the form of recovery, but also due to the low calorie content, will help to lose weight.

When I managed to adapt to it and get used to it, the feeling of hunger never visited me, the portions and food eaten were enough for me to saturate.Of course, I missed fried very much, but what you can’t do for yourself, your beloved, all the more you know about the consequences that will await you otherwise!
In this diet, I completely excluded fried food, but on the other hand, it should contain a lot of vegetables (I fell in love at this time with carrots, beets, zucchini and cabbage, but it can be infrequent, Peking and cauliflower in this regard is much easier than white cabbage – that’s I eat it extremely rarely), and you can also eat a lot of fruits (dried apricots, prunes, apples, orange, banana, kiwi, but when my stomach starts to bother me, then of course only baked apples and pears).

I had the main cooking options, steamed in a slow cooker, but hell here at last it came in handy for me, stewing in a pan and again a slow cooker and of course the oven!

Here I will show you my approximate diet for the day with options and photo examples of my food! I do not know how to make beautiful and fabulous looking food photos, so how did it happen, I hope someone will like it very much !!!
During an exacerbation and after a hunger strike, nothing is easier and easier to digest than chicken broth with white croutons:

My diet with possible examples:
FIRST BREAKFAST:

I prefer to drink loose tea with a sandwich or toast after sleep, for me this option is the most acceptable.

BREAKFAST:
This is the second method, write after the first one in about a couple of hours, here we eat a little denser, mostly porridge, I cook them absolutely different, oatmeal, oatmeal, wheat, corn, and even empty – semolina, but we love her with her daughter! Empty porridge is very sad to eat, so I usually like to add fruit, nuts or a spoonful of jam to it, so the eye rejoices), and it looks nicer. I cook porridge mainly in water, but I add a little milk. LUNCH:
Lunch should be the most dense, at least my body sees and feels it this way,
is supposed to eat a couple of dishes fully, something like the first and second, but I can’t, or rather I’m not enough, I can very rarely eat full at a time, usually if I missed one of the breakfasts, then most likely I can handle it.
For me, lunch is almost always soup, a rare exception when there is nothing liquid, especially since I am also a mother and this status also obliges me to prepare full meals, soup is important for a child, and my treasure, fortunately, loves them very much, and you can even say these are the dishes that she always eats, unlike other food.
Soups can be different: lean, on chicken broth, on beef (I rarely do on bone, mainly at the request of my husband), or fish, mmmm … Norwegian trout sur – divine, I write and drool, I’ll go along the way now cook it!

For the second, usually a side dish: buckwheat, rice, pasta and potatoes less often. Basically, this second dish smoothly passes for dinner, I usually fill up with soup very densely.

Afternoon: I always make it as light as possible, fruits, berries, fruit salad, you can eat vegetable when there is nothing, I can just drink tea with a homemade piece of baked charlotte or just eat a handful of nuts or candied fruits. DINNER:
It all depends on the saturation of the body, sometimes eating tightly throughout the day, I want to make it light too, so a curd casserole, vegetable salad seasoned with butter or sour cream (you can mess with homemade mayonnaise, but I don’t like the process itself cooking and the taste is also not very good) or a steamed omelet of eggs.

But more often for dinner, my tummy is already hungry and I’m preparing something meat or fish.
Also a side dish, wrote basically the same as for lunch, fish or meat.
Here I will show you more photo options, how it so happened that my dinner folder turned out to be the most diverse))):

DRINKS: I often cook compotes, fruit drinks, jelly.Coffee,. I do not drink cocoa, juices only if freshly squeezed and then extremely rarely, because a high concentration of acids is obtained, on the contrary, they will irritate the stomach, but as for packaged juices or canned juices, categorically not. Soda, too!
I’m not a fan of any smoothies, I’m better off just eating yoghurt and sprinkling it with berries, it tastes better for me.
I would like to highlight the SWEET separately! Yes, you can also eat it and even need to eat a little !!! What is our body without fast carbohydrates and insulin emissions, it also needs to be trained!
Mainly from the store I eat marshmallows, marshmallows, marmalade.From baked and homemade, I really like apple or pear charlottes, biscuit pie with meringue.

Summing up:

What I had to refuse:
1. From dry water completely.
2. From chips, snacks, salty nuts and other joys, I had breakdowns and I gorged on such nonsense, then again suffered with stomach and other delights.
3. From canned food (rarely pickled cucumber, peas, corn), curls.
4. Remove all fried foods.
5. To reduce salt consumption, at first I had to suffer very much from a lack of salt, everything seemed insipid and tasteless.
6. Refusal of spices with mixtures of peppers, ie remove hot snacks and seasonings, I loved Korean salads, I had to get out of the habit.

7. Limit consumption of coffee, black tea (I rarely drink strong now – only if the pressure drops too much).
8. To exclude alcohol, this refusal I survived at least the easiest, before I could afford beer with fish, now, on the advice of a gastroenterologist, only a glass of good red wine or champagne – very rarely and only on occasion.The doctor allowed and even advised brandy – but I can’t stand them on the spirit.
9. Completely give up carbonated drinks, for more than 10 years I have not been drinking Pepsi, Sprites and the like.

Sticking to a diet is difficult, but possible! The first months were difficult morally, there was always a temptation to grind off something forbidden, especially for me, as for a drug addict, the refusal from chips and kirieshki was hard to overcome, I constantly wanted salt. It just broke from her lack – there was a wild desire to run a spoon into the saloon and into the mouth while no one sees).
I understood that I was not an enemy to my health and held on, my willpower grew stronger, after a couple of months on such a diet, all problems and exacerbations in the gastrointestinal tract were closed, treated, and I thoroughly adapted to eat something that does not harm me, does not provoke my stomach, pancreas and intestines express themselves negatively.
After being drawn in, I completely switched to Proper nutrition with some deviations, indulgences, which I can safely afford outside of periods of exacerbation.

What this diet taught me (good habits):
1. Drink water (filtered), because my kidneys tend to accumulate sand and form stones, mineral water, having previously released all gases from it. Volume per day from 1.5 to 2 liters.
2. Necessity of daily uncomplicated physical exercises, to strengthen muscles, since there are sagging and reflux, and it has the most positive effect on the proper functioning of intestinal motility.
3.5-6 single meals in small portions: snacks are possible if you feel hungry between meals.
4. Strict control of salt per day, the habit of eating leaner and less salted foods.
5. Cooking mode: cooking, stewing, baking.
6. Food temperature – neither cold nor hot.
7. During exacerbations, food is ground on a blender for 3 days, for example, mashed potatoes, liquid broth, porridge-spread, that is, boiled.
8. Plan in advance what basket of products to form for the week, think over the menu in advance.
9. The habit of choosing the right products for cooking, for example, if it is pasta, then they are from durum wheat, sweets and chocolate, I always prefer to take marshmallows, marmalade or marshmallow. If you want to cook it, let it be homemade.

CONCLUSION: With the help of my individual nutrition, I almost completely changed my nutritional system that had been established until then, at first it was honestly very difficult, but not physically or hunger, no, I ate decently, it was hard mentally that it was impossible to eat all the muck to which we are so accustomed.Over time, it became so much a part of everyday life, into a daily routine, I already stopped looking at recipes in a laptop or books, just by intuition I already knew how to cook correctly and that, a list of a grocery basket for the family was formed. Now many will ask the question – what about the husband, with the child, everything is clear, he eats absolutely the same way as I do! You know, I don’t cook separately for my husband, he eats the same as we eat, but he has holy days for him when he can get up to the stove and cook himself delicious food, so he respects my food system and at the same time pampers himself, but sometimes I can cook him something very tasty in order to pamper him, albeit not entirely healthy, but not so junk food.We never have grapes in terms of cooking and diet! If I can’t eat what he prepared, let’s say it’s something too fatty or rich, I can easily eat something prepared in advance “just in case” or in the end print a pack of cottage cheese))).

You can and even need to live on such a diet, you can fully exist on it, but do not forget that it is temporary and it is better to practice it in courses after exacerbations, then you can smoothly switch to individual nutrition and choose a diet for yourself and the needs of your body! What have I done successfully !!! I can boast of my figure, although this is not at all the end in itself of such nutrition! Rather, on the contrary, I would love to gain 5 kg by weight!

Thank you for your attention, I hope it was useful and tasty with me! Your Sergeevna!
The review was moved from another section of nutrition, because the cabbage I used in the diet got across to someone).I hope you will support me and help more people see this food – initially it was written on the dietary table according to Pevzner.

Esophageal cancer

The esophagus is a hollow muscular tube that carries solid and liquid food from the throat to the stomach. The wall of the esophagus consists of several layers of tissue, namely mucous, muscle and connective tissue. Cancer of the esophagus, as a rule, begins its development from the inner mucous membrane and in the process of growth spreads to other layers.

The stomach and esophagus belong to the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Two forms of esophageal cancer are most common. Their names come from the name of the cells that gave rise to the malignant growth:

Squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma): The tumor affects the thin, flat cells that line the lining of the esophagus. Most often, the neoplasm is localized in the upper and middle part of the esophagus, although it can spread to other parts.This tumor is also called epidermoid carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma: the glandular (secreting) cells are affected by the malignant process. The glandular cells are found in the lining of the esophagus and produce mucus that is secreted into the esophageal cavity. Adenocarcinomas are more often located in the lower part of the esophagus, closer to the stomach.

Risk factors for esophageal cancer include:

• Tobacco smoking increases the risk of developing the disease by 2-4 times.
• Alcohol abuse increases the risk of developing 12 times.
• Barrett’s esophagus: a condition in which the flat cells in the lower esophagus are replaced by intestinal-type epithelial cells (similar in structure to the cells lining the lining of the small intestine). Such a replacement occurs against the background of a prolonged (many months and years) reflux of gastric juice and bile into the esophagus, with impaired function of the lower esophageal sphincter.

The lower esophageal sphincter is a muscle that circularly encloses the end of the esophagus, at the junction with the stomach.By contracting, it prevents the contents of the stomach from being thrown back into the esophagus. Such a reflux is called gastroesophageal reflux, and a condition in which the reflux of gastric contents occurs constantly is gastroesophageal reflux disease.

• Over 50 years of age. With age, the likelihood of developing esophageal cancer increases.
• Male Men get sick 3 times more often than women.

Clinical picture.

The most common symptoms of esophageal cancer are difficulty or pain when swallowing food.

These and other symptoms can occur with esophageal cancer and other causes.

You should immediately consult a doctor if any of the following problems occur:

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). This is the most common symptom. The tumor, narrowing the lumen of the esophagus, does not allow food to pass freely into the stomach. The patient has a sensation of food stuck in the chest after swallowing. This forces sufferers to switch to softer and even thinner foods in order to facilitate nutrition.
• Spitting up after swallowing food or liquids. In the absence of treatment, a situation develops when the tumor completely blocks the lumen of the esophagus, and the patient is deprived of the opportunity to even consume water. In this case, all attempts at feeding end with regurgitation or vomiting.
• The appearance of retrosternal pain, sometimes a burning character, which occurs when the tumor grows outside the esophagus.
• Weight loss.
• Hoarseness and chronic cough.
• Heartburn and indigestion.

In the initial forms, esophageal cancer, as a rule, is asymptomatic and can be detected only with the help of special research methods, by chance, or during a preventive examination.

General nonspecific warning signs of malignant disease:

1. change in general well-being, expressed in the appearance of weakness, decreased ability to work, rapid fatigue, unreasonable rises in temperature;
2. persistent decrease in appetite or complete loss of it up to the aversion to food without any objective reason;
3. progressive weight loss, accompanied, along with the first two signs, pallor of the skin, not explained by other diseases;

Treatment.

Surgical interventions.

If cancer cells have not invaded the esophagus, surgery is the treatment of choice. The most common surgery is to completely remove the area where the tumor is located and connect the stomach to the rest of the esophagus. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a piece of intestine to connect the esophagus to the stomach, the so-called intestinal interposition.

After the operation, the patient can eat normally, although the stomach is reduced in size and it is necessary to take it in smaller portions, as well as more often and more slowly.Some patients develop heartburn or diarrhea. These problems are quite common, so it is advisable to experiment with different foods to find out which ones cause the most problems.

Surgical intervention is a highly traumatic factor for the body, and the recovery period should be gradual and requires some patience. In the first 6-7 days, nutrition is possible only by intravenous infusion. The patient should not eat or even drink water.This is due to the fact that the gastrointestinal tract does not immediately start working after the end of anesthesia, it cannot peristalize and carry out the food bolus. The feeling of thirst may be present, but the patient receives all the necessary volume of fluid through droppers. To reduce dry mouth, you can moisten your lips with damp cotton wool. You can start drinking a small amount of water from the 7th day. The restoration of the intestine is assessed by the activity of peristalsis, the time of the first discharge of gases. From this time on, you can gradually begin to eat under the supervision of a doctor, starting with liquid broths, into which you can add bread crumbs and finely grated pieces of white meat – chicken or fish, boiled eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, caviar.Meals should be started with small portions, and if the food is well absorbed, then for 10-12 days you can start eating cereals, steamed cutlets and other food, which the doctor advises.

In cases where the tumor is located on the outside of the esophagus and is inoperable, a combination of chemotherapy with radiotherapy is used. This combination significantly improves patient outcomes, with some having a long-term cure.

Forecast.

If the cancer is confined to the esophagus and complete removal of the tumor by surgery is possible, the cure rate is very high.The methods of chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy in patients with inoperable tumors have been significantly improved. Some of them are now able to achieve a cure. Thanks to the optimal combination of surgery, radiotherapy and medication, results are more favorable than they were just a few years ago.

Nutrition for GERD. 7 safe foods for heartburn

Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when acid flows back from the stomach into the esophagus.This is normal, but it can also cause complications or unpleasant symptoms such as heartburn.

One reason is that the lower esophageal sphincter is weakened or damaged. It is usually closed so that food from the stomach does not enter the esophagus.

The food you eat affects the amount of acid produced by your stomach. Eating well is the key to fighting heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a severe, chronic form of acid reflux.

Foods That May Help Reduce Symptoms

Reflux symptoms can result from stomach acid coming into contact with the esophagus, causing irritation and pain. If you are acidic, you can include the following foods in your diet to help manage your reflux symptoms.

None of these products will cure the disease, and the decision to use these products to relieve symptoms should be based largely on your own experience.

1. Vegetables

Vegetables are naturally low in fat and sugar, and they help reduce stomach acid. It is good to include green beans, broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, leafy greens, potatoes, and cucumbers in your diet.

2. Ginger

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural remedy for heartburn and other gastrointestinal conditions.You can add grated or chopped ginger root to meals, smoothies, or ginger tea to relieve symptoms.

3. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a breakfast favorite and a great source of fiber. A diet high in fiber reduces the risk of gastroesophageal reflux. Whole grain bread and whole grain rice can also be a good source of fiber in the diet.

4. Non-citrus fruits

Melons, bananas, apples, and pears are less likely to cause reflux symptoms than sour fruits, including citrus fruits.The same goes for fruit juices.

5. Lean meat and seafood

Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood that are low in fat will reduce the symptoms of esophageal reflux. Better to grill them, grill them, bake or boil them.

6. Egg whites

Egg white is a good option. However, be careful with yolks, which are high in fat and can cause reflux symptoms.

7. Healthy Fats

Avocados, walnuts, flaxseeds, olive oil, sesame oil, and sunflower oil are good sources of healthy fats. Reduce your intake of saturated fats and trans fats and replace them with healthier, unsaturated fats.

Symptoms of GERD

Heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux. It manifests itself as a burning sensation in the stomach or chest after a full meal or certain foods.GERD can also cause belching or vomiting as the acid passes into the esophagus.

Other symptoms include:

• dry cough

• sore throat

• bloating

• belching or hiccups

• difficulty swallowing

• a lump in the throat

Many people with GERD find that certain foods cause these symptoms.No diet can prevent all symptoms of GERD, and food triggers are different for everyone.

To identify your individual triggers, keep a food diary and track the following:

• what foods do you eat

• what time of day do you eat

• what symptoms are you experiencing

Keep a journal for at least a week.If your diet is changing, it’s helpful to keep track of your foods over a longer period. You can use a journal to identify specific foods and drinks that are affecting your reflux.

In addition, the diet and nutritional advice provided here is a starting point for planning your meals. Use this guide in conjunction with your food diary and your doctor’s recommendations. The goal is to minimize and control your symptoms.

Foods that increase heartburn

While doctors debate which foods actually cause reflux symptoms, certain foods have been shown to cause problems in many people at once. To control your symptoms, you can start by eliminating the following foods from your diet.

1. Foods with a high fat content

Fried and fatty foods can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing acid to be pumped from the stomach into the esophagus.These foods also take a long time to digest, so they slow down gastric emptying. Eating high-fat foods increases your risk of reflux symptoms, so lowering your total daily fat intake may help.

2. Tomatoes and citrus fruits

Fruits and vegetables are important for a healthy diet. But certain fruits can cause or worsen GERD symptoms, especially those that are very acidic. If you have frequent heartburn, you should reduce or eliminate your intake of citrus fruits and tomatoes.Also pay attention to tomato sauce and the products in which it is used.

3. Chocolate

Chocolate contains an ingredient called methylxanthine. It has been shown to relax the smooth muscles of the lower esophageal sphincter and increase reflux.

4. Garlic, onions and spicy foods

Spicy and spicy foods, onions and garlic, have been statistically reported to cause oesophageal reflux symptoms in many people, but not all.If you eat a lot of onions or garlic, be sure to carefully write down your meals in your diary and track your body’s response to them.

5. Mint

Peppermint and mint-flavored foods such as chewing gum and mints can also trigger acid reflux symptoms.

While the lists above include common triggers, you may have a unique intolerance to other foods.You can try, for example, skipping the following foods for three to four weeks to see if your symptoms improve: dairy, bread, cookies, crackers.

Lifestyle Cure Heartburn

In addition to controlling reflux symptoms through diet and nutrition, you can manage symptoms through lifestyle changes.

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Avoid drinking alcohol

• Do not smoke

• Don’t overeat and eat slowly

• Stay upright for at least two hours after eating

• Avoid tight clothing

• Don’t eat three to four hours before bed.